Chris Ash, a veteran coach with experience in the college and professional ranks, will join the Notre Dame Football coaching staff as Bob Hinton Defensive Coordinator. The hiring will be effective at the conclusion of the University’s standard employment process.
“Chris’ experience of coordinating and leading great defensive units at multiple places really resonated with me,” said Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Marcus Freeman. “His experience both in the NFL and as a head coach are valuable assets he can bring to our program. Chris has a great reputation of being a coach who builds strong relationships, while simultaneously developing his players, and that makes him a great fit for this role.”
Ash enters his 30th season of coaching and has seen success throughout his career in multiple posts, including as a position coach, coordinator and head coach.
Most recently a scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ash spent two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders as defensive backs coach after a season in Jacksonville as safeties coach. In his first season with the Raiders in 2022, Ash led a unit that saw 13 different defensive backs record snaps, tied for the second-most in a single season for the Raiders since 2000. His unit produced two defensive touchdowns in 2022, tied for the fourth-most among defensive back units in the NFL and tied for the most by a Raiders defensive back unit since 2010.
On the collegiate level, Ash has coordinated multiple successful college defenses, including for the 2014 National Champion Ohio State squad. He also served as the head coach at Rutgers, from 2016-19.
In 2020, Ash served as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach for Texas and helped guide the team to a 7-3 record and victory in the Alamo Bowl. In 2020, the Longhorns ranked ninth nationally in fourth-down defense (0.333), 10th in turnover margin (1.00), 16th in fumbles recovered (9), 19th in turnovers gained (19) and 23rd in team tackles for loss (7.3).
Ash spent eight years in the Big Ten Conference, including four as a defensive coordinator with four Big Ten championships. Ash led four groups that ranked in the top 25 statistically, including a top-10 defensive unit in 2015 at Ohio State.
Serving as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Ohio State, the 2015 Buckeye defense ranked second nationally in scoring defense, ninth in total defense and ninth in sacks. In his first season (2014), OSU’s defense ranked fourth nationally with 24 interceptions, fifth in turnovers gained (33), 13th in sacks (3.00 per game) and 14th in tackles for loss (7.3 per game) en route to a Big Ten and National Championship.
He played a role in the development of several notable players, including defensive end Joey Bosa, a unanimous first-team All-American, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten, along with several others including cornerback Eli Apple, defensive back Doran Grant, defensive tackle Michael Bennett, linebacker Joshua Perry, defensive tackle Adolphus Washington, safety Vonn Bell and linebacker Darron Lee.
Ash served as defensive coordinator and coached the secondary at Arkansas in 2013. He helped improve Arkansas’ pass defense, with the Razorbacks defense finishing 72nd nationally in passing yards allowed after ranking 113th in 2012.
Ash spent three seasons at Wisconsin, the last two of which were as defensive coordinator (2011-12) with the first as defensive backs coach (2010). The Badgers were Big Ten champions in all three of Ash’s seasons in Madison. Ash spent eight seasons over two different stints at lowa State, finishing as defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Ash spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons at San Diego State in the same role as his time with the Cyclones.
Ash began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at his alma mater, Drake, in 1997. He was promoted to defensive coordinator for the next two seasons before moving to lowa State in 2000.